Hobart 500554 Handler 190 MIG Welder 230V

I have been using a Klutch 140amp welder for the past 5 years. The Klutch has been great for me, zero issues. But I wanted something I could run on a 220 circuit for a little more power. The 190 has a great price here on Amazon, so I went ahead and bought it. I am not much of a welder, but I love to tinker in my shop and build small projects. Right now I have been welding a motor cycle carrier to mount in the receiver nn my Teryx to haul my sons 50cc dirt bike. I have been using my Klutch for the first half of the project. Using the 190 on it for a bit now and I can say the Hobart seems to weld a little better. When I say better, I feel like I can make cleaner and better looking welds with it. It seems to have less splatter as well. I really like the preset voltage settings. I didn't think I would like that, which is one of the reasons I initially bought a Klutch vs a Hobart 5 years ago. I thought having one with infinite adjustments would be better. But with the Hobart there is less guessing. So far settings on a cover lid have been great for me. I have welded 1/4 metal with it, and it penetrates deep. I am thrilled with my purchase

I must say I’m very impressed with this welder, bought it because I needed to upgrade my old miller welder & this was about 1/3 the price of the millers so I gave it a try and must say I’m thought it impressed, it can weld up to 1/2 plate no issue all the way down to 24-30 gauge with proper technique, It puts down consistent welds & the settings are simple & easy to setup and adjust, Penetration is amazing & welds always looks clean, this machine is very easy to use & better than Lincoln welders imo as I’ve been using a Lincoln 180 for a few months before I purchased this and it was night & day difference in how the welders weld the Hobart is 100x better & easier to use

Ok fella`s, I`ve been disabled/Retired since 2007 and haven`t welded a drop except for stick burning with a stinger. Finally got well enough in 2017 to start piddling again, my Lincoln Stick could not be brought DOWN cold enough to burn on thinner material and I thought - WHY not invest in a new Mig?, I`m an actual Pipe Fitter/Welder (Non-Coded) and have done MOST pipe with the Stick because of the penetration that it is capable to do, even to 3/4in. thick pipe and sometimes thicker. Well NOW?, I am just a Hobbyist and do a bit on the side to supplement my "Fixed" income of overhauling/repairing Lawn Tractors-Mowers-Trailers-Frames (you get the idea Right?) Well anyway, my stick was WAY too hot to weld on those thinner materials and could NOT be adjusted any lower for the 7018`s and 6010`s that I normally used, they would just "STICK" to the metal when touched. So, I made the leap BACK to the ole MIG with flux core wire., I did NOT want a No-Name brand or Chinese knock-off, I studied MANY, MANY Reviews before making my choice of what to get and the requirements I NEEDED it to make. I finally chose the Hobart Handler 190 #500554 @230V, it is NOT the cheapest one nor is it the most expensive either and WILL handle material thickness of up to 1/4in. even for "Hardened " steel such as "Armor Plate" AND with the optional "Spooler" it CAN be used on Aluminum as well. I DID however consider making my first purchase of the Hobart 500551 EZ-TIG 165i AC/DC TIG Welder 230V BUT I have NEVER done ANY Tig work and besides, I have ALWAYS had a shaking problem in my hands, and you MUST be able to HAVE steady hand/eye coordination to do this type welding ALL the time. (I would have Loved to have been able to do this type of welding be cause it IS a MUCH prettier professional looking weld and it CAN be done on some pretty THIN material) Just NOT for me, too OLD I guess at 66-years. Plus my purchase of the Handler 190 WILL pay itself off in jobs I get within oh, say 6-months--maybe less depending on the amount of jobs I get to do. My initial purchase of the Handler 190 was NOT just the machine itself---there were MANY extra`s that I WANTED to have on hand (mainly because I do NOT like having to put a job on "Stand-by" from running out of something then having MAKE my customer WAIT for me to get more) So, when "I" made my initial order?, I did so in "TWO`s"---Run out of one?, put ANOTHER on order, it will be BACK in my stock BEFORE I am totally out. Tips?, YUP !!!, I have 20 or so tips in back-up as for 2 gel`s and other items. I DO suggest getting the Pliers they advertise to go with the unit ( spring loaded to keep them open and much better quality than a regular set of cutters PLUS they are designed to be able to knock off the build-up/spatter that occurs in side of the gun nozzle as long as you USE the Gel in tandem in it. Another note: When using "Stainless" wire with Argon Gas?, EVERYTHING you use for cleaning it up after you weld? MUST have it`s OWN clean-up system IE: wire wheel, brushes, files, burr bits, ect. These items MUST be dedicated for stainless use ONLY because cross contamination of the material results in a WEAK weld. So, basically? All in All?, The Handler 190 230V IS a GREAT choice for seasoned OR beginner welders out there especially if you don`t want to be disappointed with it`s quality and performance. But by ALL means when making YOUR order?, do NOT forget the accessories AND your "Back-up`s". And do not forget to get the Cart WITH the drawers to keep your extra`s in and in ONE place and DO purchase an extension cord for it also because you ARE going to want to move you Mig around to get to your work. So EXPECT to spend around $1400.00 all together for everything you will need unless you WANT to purchase a set of bottles/filled, and cable to run from you Main and at LEAST a 30-amp circuit breaker. A 150ft. cable COULD run as much as $220 and would be a GOOD idea to enclose it in conduit for prolonged protection like I did mine even if it it is classified as a "Direct Bury" cable and do NOT, I repeat DO NOT forget getting an 8ft. Copper steak to plunge as Lightning Protection Insurance, just make DOUBLE sure the bigger the size the cable you connect TO the stake?, the BETTER. (I used a VERY heavy gauge Aluminum cable). Later I WILL be looking at the Hobart Plasma cutters,gotta have one of those---saves a LOAD of time and effort when needing to scab a piece of steel to plug a hole in a mower deck and they make such a clean cut too. I have a SMALL torch set-up now and will be looking into one that I don`t have to re-fill each time it gets used. MY opinion is to get one with at LEAST 50-60 foot hoses and by ALL means go for the Gold and go straight for a Victor set-up of torch & gauges, you WILL be glad you spent that extra money for it. The Mini Bottle set-up you see here on Amazon are NOT always fallible here in the US because of Regulations so just go to your LOCAL welding supply store and make THAT purchase or find a "Second Hand" set-up. Victor OR Smith are good choices.

Hobart welders are excellent welders. The price was good and the quality is is good. But then again it's made by Miller and in my opinion Miller is the best. I didn't give any stars on longevity because I haven't had it that long. The old Hobart 140 handler I had was a good unit but only 110v. I wish I hadn't sold it. It has worked very well for my home projects so far. I'm not a real fan of flux-core wire so I use solid core and gas. But it'll run both if needed in a pinch. The only thing I don't like is it's not duel voltage 110/220 it's only 220v. But I knew that when buying it.

Excellent welder, easy settings and very consistent